The Canucks have placed popular BC-born pugilist Aaron Volpatti on waivers today, as first reported by Darren Dreger and since confirmed by the club. The move was recieved with skepticism from the fan-base, partly because Aaron Volpatti is a "louder" presence on the ice than chronically under-appreciated fourth line winger Dale Weise.

Some theorize that the Canucks are sending Volpatti to Chicago in order to call up diminutive center Andrew Ebbett, who has the advantage of being a left-handed centreman. That makes some sense but I prefer to trust Bob McKenzie who suggested that that the Canucks are waiving Aaron Volpatti - who I'd describe as relatively unlikely to be claimed by another team - in order to clear space for Steve "editor's bane" Pinizzotto who is finally healthy.

Aaron Volpatti on waivers for 2 reasons. 1. Get him icetime. 2. Open roster spot for Steve Pinizzotto, coming off injured non-roster status.

For the most part Aaron Volpatti has been an effective fourth-line presence for the Canucks this season. He's playing soft competition (as you'd expect from a fourth-liner) but he's also starting two shifts in Vancouver's end for every one shift he starts on offense. He's also coming out more or less even by the possession numbers.

But forget the possession data, Volpatti has earned a lot of goodwill from Canucks fans for his wealth of sandpaper. In 16 apperances this season he's fought four times, winning both of the bouts he should've won and losing to Douglas Murray and Ryan Reeves (according to hockeyfights.com voters) - who are two extraordinarily frightening individuals. In addition to his martial prowess, Volpatti is the most devastating hitter on the Canucks roster and it isn't really all that close.

Aaron Volpatti looks more like a prototypical fourth liner than Dale Weise does, but Weise remains the faster skater, the superior possession player and the asset with more upside. Consider that when the fourth line has played without Weise, both Volpatti and Maxim Lapierre find their Corsi% hovering around the low-40s. When Weise joins that group however, they basically break even.

We know from experience that Alain Vigneault prefers steady players with polished, reliable games to shock and awe types, especially at the bottom end of his roster. I suspect that's partly why Volpatti finds himself as the odd man out with Steve Pinizzotto returning from injury.

Update: A subsequent Bob McKenzie tweet suggests that the Canucks will call up Pinizzotto, and then send him back for Chicago for a conditioning stint. So there's some serious roster gymnastics going on here and perhaps Ebbett will get the call in the interim. Anyway, it looks like Pinizzotto's hypothetical NHL debut isn't as nigh as I suggested.

Thomas Drance lives in Toronto, eats spicy food and writes about hockey. He is the editor in chief of the Nation Network (a.k.a Overlord), and an opinionated blowhard to boot. You can follow him on twitter @thomasdrance.